German streets, sidewalks, alleyways, courtyards, forecourts, balconies, rooftops, parklands, ponds, creeks, streams, rivers, deltas and beaches are about to be covered in filth for the next week or so before the annual multi-million-euro taxpayer-funded cleanup operation removes most – but not all – of the noxious crap for another year.
Yes, it’s New Year’s in Germany! Time for an otherwise sensible folk to spend millions and millions of euros letting loose with a few whizz-bangs for the kiddies and those who prove you’re only young once, but can stay childish forever. Shooting off as many fireworks as you can cram into the half-hour or so around midnight on New Year’s Eve is a tradition as time-honoured as getting good and loaded in the hours beforehand. No wonder the hospitals are full.
I would wait until January 1 to post an updated photo and report of the mayhem from the night before, but why bother? Regular readers will appreciate recycling, won’t they?
Besides, it’s the same procedure as last year, same procedure as every year.
Trotzdem – nevertheless – Happy New Year!
The banner photograph shows the town of Britannia Beach, BC, Canada, where I grew up. It's home. But I don't live there anymore.
Munich police cordon off the Europaplatz and the Prinzregentenstraße for tipsy arsonists. It happens to be just around the corner. No escape from the liquored-up Leute.
I find that image of the shot teddybear most poignant
Premeditated fur-murder! That’s what it is.
What? I thought the Germans were all buttoned-up and bureaucratic. I’m amazed and amused – by both posts.
On the other hand, it might just prove Germans are a step up the evolutionary ladder. Around here, fireworks are ok but it’s considered far more cool to go out and shoot off your Glock or Grampa’s old single shot. More than a few have been injured (very occasionally killed) by bullets falling out of the sky – you can bet I’m not outside for an hour before and an hour after midnight!
Oh, and by the way. I read in the Abendzeitung that this year they’ve increased the allowable total gunpowder quotient to 500 grams from 200 grams. One might need to be careful.
A half-kilo of gunpowder? You’re kidding, right? I’m going to reinforce the balcony barricades.
Poor Bear.
Now I gave up a Barbie once for my uncle to shoot off in his homemade cannon.
Feet or head first? Naked or fully clothed? And what did she look like after? Just trying to squeeze in a few more questions before we hunker down for the year-end onslaught.
Last year the apartment across from us was burned down (firework through a cracked open window). While the fire department was swarming over it, trying to keep the entire building from burning, the Hatfields and McCoys on the side streets next to and across from us continued their four hour battle of fireworks (fired toward each other, across an active 4- lane highway, into buildings and cars).
We don’t like to go too far from our place on NY’s Eve.
A house fire! Seriously, I wonder what it might finally take for them to actually ban them? Ten deaths at once? 20? 150?
After consideration, I’m revising my previous conclusion that our gunfire’s worse than your fireworks. Shooting off fireworks is one thing. Shooting fireworks at other people and setting homes on fire is another. But I’m still amazed.
It truly is like a war zone, and they don’t care what damage they do. Because they’ve also set off fireworks on the windshield and hood of our car, I drive it to work and park it overnight behind the security zone where nobody can get at it,
Happy New Year and all of the best to you and yours in 2010!
And all the best to you, Beave!
I love that picture. LOVE it. coincidentally, i watched my friends do the exact same thing to a teddy bear on the street on january first. cultural meme? teddy genocide? hmmm…
How can someone do something like that to a cuddly teddy??!!
I know. There should be a separate category of crime for it, a cross between attempted murder and cruelty to animals – stuffed or otherwise.